If CAP413 (whatever that is) doesn't include QSY, then it should. It has been in use from time immemorial to mean "Change to" or "Changing to" 117.9 (or whatever).

D.

Hi

PPL holder here - owning up to QSY use, but in one circumstance only.

"G-XX leaving the frequency, will QSY en route" - to indicate that I am going non-radio for a while.

If there's a snappier but equally informative way of saying this, I'll happily adopt it.

ALEXA, If I heard that call I certainly wouldn't expect to hear you back on frequency "in a while".

Apologies for not being clear!

I didn't mean to imply that I would be returning to the frequency that I was just leaving, but that I was flying into an area where there was no reason for me to be in contact with any particular unit, so I would go non-radio until I was.

There is a correct way: "changing to" it takes no longer.
The "Q" code was designed as a question and response code to make operations in morse more effcient, it was never designed for telephony use and was never recommended phraseology. After years of missuse, it was outlawed about 20 years ago.
The UK Radiotelephony Manual, but also the basis of ICAO Doc 9432 Manual of Radiotelephony

LFAJ

So what should I say please?

Thank you. That's what I expected and it's what I have said to ATSUs in the past.

But in my (albeit modest) experience, if it a LARS unit that I am leaving, I then get:

"G-XX, squwark [sp?] 7000, freecall xyz on 123.45"

Since I'm only going to do one of those things, do I respond to say that I won't be doing the second one and if so how please?

G-XX squark 7000 Monitoring 123.45 (or whatever else you intend to listen to.)

ALEXA,

In Class G airspace you decide who you are going to talk to on the radio.

I hear people on LARS saying "Request frequency change to XXX" whereas I say (and teach) squawking 7000 and changing to XXX or just "changing enroute" which I know isn't standard from a CAP413 point of view but is commonly used by the military.

Thanks all for the clarification.

My initial observation was in response to the increasing use of a phrase that is not in CAP413 and is being adopted by students.

I follow Whopity's lead on this and try to eradicate it.

Another WRONG Call

"Practice FANSTOP"

Frequently heard and Incorrect!

Only yesterday I noticed guidance issued by LVNL (Dutch ANSP) concerning Ground Frequency changes effective tomorrow stating:

"After vacating the landing runway pilots shall contact Schiphol Ground without ATC instructions (auto-QSY) immediately on the following frequencies..."

No mention of QSY in the AIP of course, although I suspect it's use will only cease when pilots and air traffickers aware of it no longer practice.

Personally, I always confirm the runway QFU lining up and refer to it as such...probably always will.



Whopity

Yes, heard that many times in the past myself - presumably a practice-practice EFATO.

Best thing would be to encourage better training and understanding of what types of services people are under, and where they apply... Most people flying puddle jumpers assume that whenever they are talking to a unit, it's all proper and they have to request everything and treat it like some sort of privilege.

So, I locally hear (Class G with a LARS) people requesting climb/descent, asking for zone transit (of an ATZ - that people seemingly don't understand the dimensions of) and replying "Contact xxx.xx" when given freecall...

If people understood the differences between operating in/out of CAS, and what is implied with contact vs freecall, we might be onto something.


Also, is there an official requirement to say you are leaving frequency?! e.g. when leaving an A/G airfield. I know most give it the "departing the circuit to the xxxx, changing to xxx.xx, (thanks for the visit etc :yuk:)" but is there any real need? Don't want to open a can of worms, but never done that in the States when leaving a towered (Class D) airport... you just depart, get given a turn on course (either when airborne or with takeoff clearance) and that's that. Leave the ATZ then do what you want and don't say a word. None of this "departing the circuit to the south, climbing through xxxx', changing to blah blah". I would agree it might be handy to let people know where you are for SA, but is there some silly old UK rule along the lines of booking out that you have to say if you're leaving the frequency in case you have a problem?!

The ATSU has a responsibility for your safety, if you simply disappear, then they have to be sure you have not crashed and will need to check if you have arrived at your destination i,e. they have a responsibility for overdue action if you have not notified your departure from their frequency.